In Geel, Belgium, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) launched its Border Security Lab, a network of laboratories that will closely cooperate with the EU law enforcement agencies.

The new lab aims to help avoid EU-internal border controls by using modern border technology. It will bring together researchers from the JRC’s existing labs, including its Explosives Trace Detection Laboratory, Aviation Security Laboratory, Narcotics Laboratory, Nanobiotechnology Flagship Laboratory, and the Counter-Drone Living Laboratory.

JRC experts will develop and test new border management technologies and provide training for border security officers.

The Border Security Lab will work together with initiatives of Frontex, Europol, EU-Lisa, EUDA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and other international partners.

Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, said:

“With 1.3 billion people crossing our external borders annually, 3.5 million moving freely inside the Schengen area every day, and 54 million - roughly 10% of the EU population - living along our internal Schengen borders, the need for innovative border security solutions is clear. By enabling stakeholders to come together to co-create and test new technologies, the JRC Border Security Lab supports needs-driven research, ensuring effective management of external borders and a safe, free Schengen area.”